Episode 107: The Farmer and The Bluefin

When we decided to make a video about farmed Bluefin tuna, it was with trepidation. This is not the perfect fish; it can hardly be considered sustainable (they eat a lot of other fish). But due to overfishing and careless overconsumption, we are dangerously close to killing the last of the wild Bluefin tuna. This fishery in Wakayama Japan (Kinki University) is the only place in the world that spawns Bluefin. So instead of taking away from the world resources, it’s adding to it. Watch the video, and make your own decision about what can be done to save this near extinct, and delicious, fish. Special Thanks to Intrepid Travel.

I love fish, but I have restricted my consumption to locally caught lake fish (lake michigan and lake superior) when in season and farm raised tilapia. But then I hear all the stories about antibiotics etc in farm raised fish and I think, well maybe I should just get my protein from rice and beans?

This is once again a reminder to me to think about how the food got to my plate. Some of this was difficult for us to watch, yet it felt hypocritical not to. We appreciated the gentleman and his honesty.
What is the biggest difference between this “farm”, and the farming done in the US and elsewhere?

Thought provoking. I’m already off farmed fish – have been convinced by family who are life-long fisherman and have watched its ill-reported impact. This made me consider how frequently we should consume local lake fishes, which aren’t great in number. I do love the simple moderation approach to sustainable farming. Guttony and conservation seem to be opposing concepts.

So, have been absolutely obsessed with you guys for the past several weeks. Started on episode 1 (Mirra, I understand how you must have felt), and now just finished. Am totally up to date. What you have done is truly remarkable. I tell everyone I know about your site. You have really gone to great lengths to help re-connect us to our food, who grows it, hunts it, fishes it, forages it, and the solemnity with which we must approach the sacrifice of other lives (animal, vegetable and others too numerous to count) so that we can live. Your approach, technique and soundtrack are really one of the high points of any day. Always a great mood elevator! What’s next?